Yeah you are on the right page. A piece of the energy gets imprinted, or left behind. But it is not like a residual haunting where an event plays over and over like a video loop. But instead is an active, intelligent entity. It could even be a protective mechanism for the soul. The pain and tragedy are left here so that the soul can be at peace. But there is enough of the soul left for the piece to take on a life of it's own. And begins haunting the place it is in.

Ok, so my first post I made wasn't totally far off. I was starting to wonder if it was, then I saw Melissa's post and it is pretty much what I was thinking, except mine involved seeking revenge instead of replaying the same thing over and over.